Homicide Defendant Sentenced to Eight-and-a-Half Years

Thank you for reading D.C. Witness. Help us continue our mission into 2024.

On Oct. 27, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan sentenced a homicide defendant to eight-and-a-half years incarceration.

Demarcus Barnett, 20, was originally charged with second-degree murder while armed for his involvement in the shooting death of 62-year-old Lasanta McGill on June 8 on the 1900 block of 7th Street, NW.

During an Aug. 28 hearing, Barnett accepted a plea agreement that lessened the second-degree murder charge to voluntary manslaughter while armed.

According to prosecutors, the pro,e occurred after Barnett had been robbed by two individuals in a building. He followed them out, and as they walked down a sidewalk, fired at them at least eight times, with one of the bullets hitting McGill.

“McGill was an innocent bystander in the incident,” said the prosecutor. The two robbers shot back at Barnett, when McGill was no longer in the direct line of fire as he was hiding between two parked vehicles.

Barnett sustained injuries from the crossfire, and sought aid at a local hospital where he was placed under arrest.

Judge Raffinan imposed a sentence of 102 months for Barnett’s involvement in McGill’s death, and is required to serve a mandatory minimum of five years incarceration. He is also required to serve five years of supervised release, and register as a gun offender.

Judge Raffinan sentenced Barnett under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA), which would effectively seal his case after he completes his requirements.